Pulaski City VA 

May 11th 1896 

My Dearest Girl  

      It is with the greatest of pleasure I attempt answer kind + highly  appreciated letter one  two days before the  other. + no words can  express the joy they brought to me for  it was as I said in  my other letter I had  began to think you  had gone back on me      

      yes it was some time  after I came home  before I wrote you  but I was just waiting to  see how things were  going to work so  I could write you  in regard to when  we should marry.  Oh yes I had quite a  time getting started  when I was over last  time      I had something  to get for Joe + had to  wait untill they were  mad + that old man  is terrible slow      it was ten oclock  when I got started     if I had known he was going to be so long

      would stay longer with you     and so you watched me untill I went out of sight trying read the future     if you could read the future what do you think would become of us. I guess it is best that we cant. Well it seems like it is almost impossible for me to get ready in June + from the tone of your letter I believe you would rather wait a while longer untill we could be better fixed I believe It would be better my selfe I dont want

      put it off any longer than this fall      what do you think of it if you want to marry sooner just say so. + I can make said arrangement but it would not be as I would like it to be but as I have said before if we wait until we get fixed as we wish I am afraid we never will for it is almost impossible for any one to be fixed as they wish 

      We will get married next month and get ready afterwards as you have said     I guess we will have to call on your farther to decide for us but I am most afraid to Leave it entirely his decision     he might pospone it indeffinately. + I am shure that would not suit me     has he said any thing lately a bout us + what he thought about our case     most all of the people over here think we will be

      married soon     yes time is flying fast    we want come to some confusion so write me what you think about what I have said in the begining of this letter     Glad to hear Cousin Rosa is getting verry well     I am glad you posted her who to chum with but I am sorry she went + give you away     I must say she did wrong in doing so hope is well all end well     I just ask you to post her so she would know who to chum with 

      And the boys have Gotten home + the young Dr. Akers too     tell them all I would like to see them + expect two in the near future. Albert has been enquireing a bout Laura Pratt 

has he     I expect he know more about her than he let on to know     as for me I dont know what her address is     she + I are too different people now [inverted text top of page] Well tell Lane I will bring him one of your pictures when I come or mail it to him if he wishes 

       you say you have thought of it often of late well so have I it is a sirious case when any one takes a notion like we have   it is a sirious chang in any one life. it is the turning point a man life and it is generaly for good. I will know about my position I spoke not before 1st of July but we need not wait for that if you say so 

 [Inverted text top of page]If we dont get married in June what do you say to getting married the second week in October     settle on that much if not sooner     well I should close write soon your true Boy Ell